Vaccine for Leishmaniasis

Abstract

Mammals immunized with an innoculum containing TLCK-treated and killed Leishmania cells show an increased resistance to Leishmaniasis.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vaccine against Leishmaniasis comprising killed cells of the genus Leishmania, said parasites having been killed in the amastigote stage by incubation in vitro at the stationary phase of growth in a medium containing an amount of N-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof effective to kill said cells. 
     
     
       2. The vaccine of claim 1, wherein said cells are Leishmania donovani or Leishmania brasiliensis. 
     
     
       3. A method for producing a vaccine comprising he steps of: subjecting cells of the genus Leishmania, in the amastigote stage, and at the stationary phase of growth, to a medium containing an amount of N-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof effective to kill said cells;   isolating said killed cells;   forming an immunostimulating innoculent comprising said killed cells.   
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3 wherein said cells are Leishmania donovani or Leishmania brasiliensis. 
     
     
       5. A method of immunizing a mammal against leishmaniasis, said method comprising the steps of: killing cells of a species of the genus Leishmania by subjecting said cells in the amastigote stage, at the stationary phase of growth, to a medium containing an amount of N-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone, or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof effective to kill said cells;   isolating said killed cells;   forming an immunizing innoculum comprising said killed cells   innoculating said mammal with an amount of said innoculum so as to significantly stimulate the immune system of said mammal against attack from virulent cells of the same species as said killed cells.   
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5 wherein said species is L. donovani or L. brasiliensis. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 5 wherein said mammal is innoculated intraperitoneally. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7 wherein said mammal is innoculated with a series of doses over a period of less than three weeks.